Shipmate and Family Comments:
AWCS (Ret.) Terry B. Burkette: I was fortunate to get to know Paul Lawson in the latter stages of my career. Paul was an Ed. Spec working for the wing at NASNI in the early 1980's. As an AWCS I was chosen to move from VS-41 to FASO to stand-up an acoustic analysis course and Paul was to be the Ed Spec. When I talked with AWCM Clint Helenihi about taking this job he told me about Paul and his outstanding reputation as an AW and as a person. Truer words have never been spoken about someone. Paul was a man of absolute impeccable integrity, honesty, and compassion. As we struggled to guide a small group of young AW2s and AW1s that were our instructors, he always placed his gentle hand on my shoulder and guided me along...helping to do the right thing. In July of 1983 I married Linda Soper of San Diego in the courtyard of the Hotel Del. Paul honored us by being one my groomsmen during that ceremony. In our journey through life we may be fortunate enough to meet people that can have a profound influence on us in the most subtle of ways. Paul was that sort of influence in my life's journey.